From left: Morgan Rielly of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary Flames, Phillip Danaul of the Montreal Canadiens and Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets star in a new campaign for RW&CO. Handout/RW&Co.

Morgan Rielly is the first to admit that his personal style has changed a lot since he entered the NHL at age 19.

“I think I was a little bit nervous when I was 19 or 20,” he says. “But now, I feel a little more established, and I’m more willing to try new things.”

As a young player his dressing-up game consisted strictly of more “standard” pieces, he recalls. Mainly: grey suits and blue suits. And that’s about it. But, these days, the 25-year-old defenceman and alternate captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs admits he’s much more willing to step beyond the sartorial blue-line.

“As you grow older, your taste changes, and it’s kind of fun,” he says. “Being more comfortable and more stylish, you’re more willing to try different things.”

While hockey — playing it, training for it and travelling to it — takes up a big portion of his time, Rielly says he’s become more interested in fashion during his latter years in the league than he was during the days when his exposure to and appreciation of style was limited to what he saw in the pages of GQ. (He recalls how his father kept old editions here and there around the house when he was growing up in North Vancouver.)

“I’ve become more interested in fashion — and suits especially,” he says. “We wear suits to each game and on travel days, and I think that’s why it has really caught my interest. Over time, you learn to appreciate that a bit more and learn to care about it a bit more.”

That increased interest in fashion is one reason he was happy to join fellow NHL players Mark Scheifele, Phillip Danault and Johnny Gaudreau in Montreal this summer to suit up for the Canadian retailer RW&CO.’s fall campaign.

“When the opportunity came, it was a really easy choice. And I’ve had a lot of fun doing it,” he says, which sees the foursome follow in the stylish footsteps of former RW&CO. campaign stars P. K. Subban and Erik Karlsson. In addition to providing him with the chance to test out his skills as a model, Rielly says the experience introduced him to a lineup of suiting pieces he says are perfect for hockey players — and every other guy too.

After all, comfort, he says, is the key to looking good.

“I think you look your best when you feel comfortable and are not glued into a suit,” Rielly says. “For players, it’s important to know that you can be comfortable and look good at the same time. When you get off the plane, you’re not worried about your pants being wrinkled. You look good and you feel comfortable. And that’s a nice touch.”

Part of Rielly’s increasing interest in fashion also stems from the city he plays in, he admits.

“A portion of it is having a platform,” he says. “When you walk around Toronto — or you walk into a game and there’s lots of cameras around. I think it’s important to look good. To look prepared and look like a pro.”

The city’s sense of style, in a sense, has rubbed off on the West Coast-raised athlete.

“Being a cool market, you enjoy looking good when you walk into a game,” Rielly says. “And then, after the game, when you go out for dinner with the guys, there’s lots of cool restaurants around Toronto and you want to look good.”

The stepped-up style offers a noticeable departure from the laid-back style of his hometown.

“In terms of the two styles being different, for me personally, I think it’s a more tailored look in Toronto because I’m oftentimes working, and in Vancouver, it’s a bit more fun, a bit more loose,” Rielly says of the style difference between the two Canadian cities. “Toronto is a bit more of a mix, with suits being a bit more business. And, in terms of streetwear, it might be a bit more risqué than Vancouver.”

Despite the elevated fashion game in Toronto, Rielly says it’s at home on the West Coast where he’s more apt to try new things with his own clothes.

“When I’m at home in Vancouver, I don’t wear as many suits, other than for weddings and media stuff, which kind of lets me try out new things,” he says. “Day-to-day, I’m pretty casual. It’s pretty much jeans and T-shirts. I like to experiment with shoes — like sneakers and boots, and whatnot. But, in terms of my-day-in-and-day-out clothes, it’s pretty laid back. And I have a couple raincoats, just in case.”

While Rielly keeps his fashion sense relatively reserved — he points to other pro athletes as sources of sartorial inspiration, citing NFL quarterback Tom Brady as someone who “dresses really well” — he’s willing to play around with select accessories in order to make an outfit his own.

“I like to wear a watch,” he says. “And then, I think the biggest thing would be wearing an odd pair of socks. I like it when they have pictures on them. But, I wouldn’t do too much.

“I like to keep it simple and just wear it well.”

Mark Scheifele

Team: Winnipeg Jets

Age: 26

Q: What was it like being a fashion model for the day?

A: It’s definitely very different. It’s not something I get to do everyday. Usually I’m in all my hockey gear. But it has definitely been a fun experience. It’s something that’s very different from what we all do, but I enjoy it. I enjoy a different side of things and getting a different perspective of getting photos taken and wearing some pretty cool suits. So, it’s been a lot of fun for me and I enjoyed it a lot.

Q: How would you describe your personal style?

A: It’s pretty simple. I’m not too outrageous or boisterous with my style. When it comes to my suit game, I try to incorporate some things in there. It’s kind of a trial-and-error thing for me. I’ll try something a little fancier or different one time and see if I like it. And, if I don’t, I’ll tame it back a little bit. But, I enjoy how fashion is always evolving. There’s always something new, there’s always something up-and-coming and I find that side of things really cool to keep up to date with.

Q: How has your style evolved in recent years?

A: I think it has gotten better and better every year (laughs). When I first got into the league, I pretty much had a black suit, a blue suit and a grey suit. And, since then, I have definitely upped my game. I have learned more about fashion. I’ve learned more about what different styles match with me. And, definitely being with RW&CO., they’ve helped me out with that.

Q: What’s your go-to outfit — for off-ice hours and pre-game time?

A: Usually, on off-hours and before a game, before getting into my suit, it’s usually sweatpants and a T-shirt. That’s the biggest thing. I don’t wear anything too fancy because I like to be comfortable. I like to have something that fits properly and is relaxed. And that’s kind of the stuff I like to wear.

Q: When you wear a suit, do you go for a classic cut or do you play with colour and prints?

A: I definitely do. I will try something that I may not be super comfortable, but I’ll see what it looks like on. I’ll look at myself in the mirror and say if I like it or don’t like it. Over the years, I’ve gotten a little more daring, so we’ll see where I go with that.

Q: And who would you say is your personal style role model?

A: I think Tom Brady. He has a pretty good style. He’s not too outrageous. It’s not like he wears very boisterous things. But, he’s always clean and it always seems like he looks fresh. He’s definitely a guy who I look up to, fashion-wise.

Phillip Danault

Team: Montreal Canadiens

Age: 26

Q: What was it like being a fashion model for the day?

A: I think it’s awesome. It’s definitely different being in front of the camera, but it’s something that I like and I want to do it again, for sure.

Q: How did the collaboration come about?

A: RW&CO. approached my agency to have me and it was a great fit. I like the clothes and I like the vibe they have and the product they have too. It has been a really good fit for me and for them.

A: My wife has been involved with elevating my suit style. I started trying a few custom suits and she likes different colours, so she made me try lots of different things. And I think that comes with my confidence, the way that I wear it. There are definitely some suits that I would never wear in my life, but it comes with confidence. I need to post more pictures on Instagram in my suits, though, that’s for sure.

Q: Who would you say is your personal style role model?

A: Honestly? I don’t have anyone in particular. I like everyone’s style. But, the more and more that I play hockey and grow up in the NHL, the more I start watching the style that the other guys have. Like Karlsson and Subban. But, I don’t want to be too flashy at the same time. So, it’s all about finding a balance for me right now.

Johnny Gaudreau

Team: Calgary Flames

Age: 26

Q: What was it like being a fashion model for the day?

A: It was interesting. Your eyes kind of open a little bit when you realize how much goes into to something like this. Being a hockey player, I didn’t really know what to expect. It was a lot of fun. I felt a little awkward at times … but it’s been a lot of fun.

Q: How would you describe your personal style?

A: It’s a work in progress. It started out not too great, but I’m learning from a couple teammates. And, obviously, with this experience, I’m sure it will get better and better as the years go on.

Q: How has your style evolved in recent years?

A: It has definitely gotten better. In the first year (in the NHL) coming out of college, I wore a lot of sweatpants and sweatshirts to the rink. Watching the older guys come to the rink, that changed pretty quickly. I learned from the older guys, and thankfully, it’s been getting better. But, there’s still room to improve.

Q: When you wear a suit, do you go for a classic cut or do you play with colour and prints?

A: I like to jump out a little bit and go with a unique look every once in a while. I have a few different suits that are a little questionable (laughs). But, I think that’s a good part about wearing a suit. You can go out there and wear different styles, different brands and different colours. That’s what is cool about them.

Q: What’s your go-to outfit — for off-ice hours?

A: Jeans and a nice T-shirt or a long-sleeved shirt. That’s about it.

Q: Are there any teammates whose personal style you admire?

A: I’d probably say Sean Monahan or James Neal. Both those guys are pretty well-dressed. It’s hard keeping up with those guys.

Q: And who would you say is your personal-style role model?

A: I don’t know if I have a role model. Obviously, guys on the team, I try to learn from those guys who probably do have role models in the fashion world. But me, personally, I just try to get better at working on my fashion and go from there.

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